ABSTRACT
The ability to accurately and efficiently retrieve information from memory is a critical component for successful performance on a number of tasks. Take for instance, performance on a reading comprehension task. Here, an individual is required to read a number of passages and then answer questions concerning those passages. Assuming that the individual accurately encodes and stores (e.g., Melton, 1963) the information, all that is needed to answer the questions is accurate retrieval of the desired information. The pertinent question is, how does the individual go about retrieving the desired information? Additionally, what factors are needed in order for the desired information to be accessed? These basic questions regarding human memory retrieval provide the core concepts in understanding remembering; that is, as advocated by Roediger (2000) and Tulving (1983), in order to understand memory, we must understand retrieval processes.
